Fluid-actuated animated figure toy



June 24, 1969 J. w; A ET AL FLUlD-ACTUATED ANIMATED FIGURE TOY I94 A l [M70 3 vai PM Fan-P0 #05501! Filed Jan. 23, 1967 firrata t United States Patent U.S. Cl. 46135 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The body of a plush-type figure toy is made from a hollow, compressible member provided with bifurcated conduits leading into the head of the toy and having outlets positioned adjacent the toys eyes. The head is made from a suitable stuffing material and the head and the body are covered with a cover member to which legs and arms may be attached. The outlets are attached to rotatably mounted disks having reaction jets provided thereon in fluid communication with the compressible body so that the disks will rotate when the body is compressed. The disks simulate eyes which may be suitably decorated to enhance their appearance when they are rotated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention is set forth in tWo parts, as follows:

Field of the invention The present invention pertains generally to the field of pneumatic toys and more particularly, to fluid-actuated,

animated figure toys having an animatable feature including a rotatable member which is rotated by discharging a pressurized fluid through reaction jets.

Description 0 the prior art Prior art patents disclosing fluid-actuated animated figure toys include United States Patents Nos. 691,266; 2,526,619 and 2,803,089. While generally satisfactory, the toys disclosed in these patents do have certain disadvantages.

One disadvantage with the toy disclosed in Patent No. 691,266 resides in the fact that the pump employed for supplying fluid to the fluid-actuated portion of the toy distracts from the overall appearance of the toy and is comparatively expensive to manufacture.

This disadvantage was overcome, to a large extent, in the toys disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,526,619 and 2,083, 089 by providing a hollow, compressive member for supplying the fluid. However, these toys are subject to the disadvantage that some of the animatable features are actuated through mechanical linkages which are likely to become damaged when subjected to rough handling by child users of the toys.

In view of the foregoing factors and conditions characteristic of fluid-actuated, animated figure toys, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and useful fluid-actuated, animated figure toy not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and having an animatable feature especially designed for movement by a fluid under pressure efliciently, safely and expeditious 1y.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a figure toy of the type described which includes an animatable feature having a rotary member which is provided with radially-extending, reaction jets through which a pressurized fluid may be discharged for imparting rotation to the rotary member.

3,451,169 Patented June 24, 1969 ice Still another object of the present invention is to provide a figure toy of the type described which includes a hollow, compressible body portion which is covered with a suitable cover member carrying arms and legs of the rag-doll type and which serves as an air pump for supplying fluid under pressure to an animatable feature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a fluid-actuated, animated figure toy is provided in the form of a plush doll having a compressible body portion forming an air pump for supplying fluid under pressure to an animatable feature including a pair of rotary members which simulate eyes for the figure toy and which have radially-extending, reaction jets through which fluid under pressure from the compressible body portion may be discharged for imparting rotation to the rotary members. The simulated eyes may be suitably decorated to enhance their appearance during rotation thereof. The rotary members are connected to the compressible body portion by conduit means which may be mounted in the head of the toy. The head is preferably made from a suitable stufling commonly used in plush dolls. The head and the body portion are covered with a cover member to which ragdoll type arms and legs may be attached. The body portion comprises air pump means for supplying air under pressure to the rotary members when the body of the doll is squeezed or otherwise compressed.

The features of the present invention which are be-v lieved to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like elements in the several v1ews:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fluid-actuated, animated figure toy constituting a presently preferred em bodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a reduced, exploded perspective view of the portion of the figure toy shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view looking in from the back of a rotary member shown in FIGURES 3 and 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the portion of the figure toy shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 15, a fluid-actuated, animated figure toy constituting a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated 10', includes a body 12 and a head 14.

The body :12 includes a hollow, compressible body portion 16 constituting a pump means for supplying a fluid under pressure to actuate an animatable feature, to be hereinafter described in detail. The body portion 16 may be made by a suitable molding process from suitable flexible materials, such as rubber or polyvinyl chloride, and includes an encompassing side wall 18, a closed bottom wall 20 and an open top 22. The bottom wall 20 may be circular in shape and defines the major diameter 3 of the body portion 16. The side wall 18 has a rapidly diminishing diameter from an intermediate portion 24 thereof to the open top 22 forming a neck 26 for the figure toy '10.

The top also includes conduit means 28 placing the body portion 16 in fluid communication with an animatable feature 30 aflixed to the head 14 for actuation by fluid under pressure from the body portion 16. The conduit means 28 may be formed integrally with the body portion 16 and includes a pair of conduits 32, 34 each extending through the head 14 and having an outlet 36 connected to the animatable feature 30.

The head 14 may be given a suitable shape by wellknown, rag-doll stuffing material 38 which is covered by a cover member 40 having a unitary, head'covering portion 42, a neck-covering portion 44 and a body-covering portion 46. The appearance of the figure toy 10 may be enhanced by attaching a pair of legs 48, 50, a pair of arms 52, 54, a pair of cars 56, 58 and a stocking cap 59 to the cover member 40. Additionally, simulated buttons '60, a mouth 62, a nose 64 and a pair of checks 66, 68 may be painted on the cover member 40.

The cover member 40 is provided with a pair of apertures, like the one shown at 70 in FIGURE 2, for receiving the animatable feature 30 which comprises a pair of simulated eyes 72, 74 each including a circular base plate 76 provided with an inlet nipple 78 connected to an associated conduit 32, 34. Each base plate 76 is also provided with a plurality of apertures 80 for permitting the flow of fluid from the nipple 78 through a plurality of like apertures 82 provided in a rotatable member 84 rotatably connected to an associated base plate 76 by a shaft 86 extending from a rear hub 88 carried by an associated member 84. Each shaft 86 is journaled in an associated bushing 90 provided on an associated base plate 76 having an annular land 92 forming a thrust bearing with an assiciated hub 88. Each rotatable member 84 is also provided with a plurality of radially-extending channels 94 each having a first end 96 in fluid communication with associated apertures 82 and a second end 98 communicating with jet orifice means 100 extending at right angles to an associated channel 94 and each having an outlet 102 formed in the rear face 104 of an associated member 84, at the end of orifice means 100. Each member 84 also includes a front face 106 in which an associated hub 88, channels 94 and jet orifices 100 are formed by displacing the material forming member 48 rearwardly past an associated rear face 104 leaving an open, fluid-conducting network on front face 106. This open network may be closed by a disk 108 secured to an associated front face 106 by a suitable adhesive 110. Each disk 108 may be suitably decorated by an indicia 112 enhancing the appearance of toy 10 when the members 84 are rotated by fluid under pressure supplied from body portion 16.

Each rotatable member 84 and associated disk 108 may be protected by a transparent cover 114 having an annular flange 116 engaging an associated base plate 76 behind an associated aperture 70 in cover member 40. Fluid issuing from the orifices 102 may be exhausted from an associated cover 114 through a plurality of apertures 118 provided therein.

The play value of the toy 10 may be increased by providing a reed-type noisemaker 120 in the bottom wall 20 of body portion 16. The noisemaker 120 may be retained in position in bottom wall 20 by an upstanding, hollow cylindrical boss 122 formed on the bottom Wall 20 during the molding operation.

In use, the body portion 16 becomes filled with air flowing through apertures 118, jet orifices 102, channels 94, apertures 82 and 80, nipple 78, and associated conduit 32, 34, and open top 22. This air may be pressurized by compressing body portion 16. Some pressurized air then flows through noisemaker 120; however, the majority of the pressurized air flows back through open top 22, conduits 32, 34, associated nipples 78, apertures 80 and 82, channels 94 and jet orifices 102. The discharge of air under pressure through jet orifices 102 creates a reaction causing an associated member 84 to rotate on its shaft 86.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7, a modified animatable feature 30a may be inserted in each aperture 70 in place of the animatable features 30. The animatable feature 30a comprises a simulated eye 72a including a circular base plate 7611 provided with an inlet nipple 78a connectible to an associated conduit 32. The base plate 76a is also provided with a plurality of apertures 80a for permitting the flow of fluid from the nipple 78a into a chamber 124 formed between the base plate 76a and a circular front plate 126. The plate 126 includes an outer annular flange 128 which nests in an outer annular flange 130 provided on plate 76a and an inner annular flange 132 encompassing an inner annular flange 134 on base plate 76a. The plate 126 is provided with a plurality of apertures 136 formed therein by striking a portion 138 of plate 126 inwardly into chamber 124. The fluid in chamber 124 flows through apertures 136 and along portions 138 into engagement with associated, radially-extending vanes 140 provided on a rotatable member 84a rotatably connected to base plate 76a by a shaft 86a extending from a rear hub 88a carried by rotatable member 84a. The shaft 86a is journalled in the inner flange 134 of base plate 76a in fluid communication with nipple 78a so that fluid flowing therethrough minimizes drag on shaft 86a and rotatable member 84a by producing an air-bearing effect thereon. The rotatable member 8400 includes a front face 108a which may be decorated with indicia like those shown at 112 in FIGURE 4 for disc 108.

The rotatable member 84a may be protected by a transparent cover 114a having an annular flange 116a engaging flange 130 on base plate 76a. Fluid issuing from the apertures 136 may be exhausted from cover 114a through a plurality of apertures 118a provided therein. The cover 114a is provided with a protuberance 142 which engages member 84a to prevent dislodgement thereof when it is moved by fluid under pressure flowing through conduit 78a.

While the particular fluid-actuated, animated figure toys herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid-actuated figure toy having a body and a head:

said body comprising a hollow compressible member for supplying fluid under pressure upon compression of said member;

fluid actuated animatable feature means on said head in fluid communication with said compressible member for receiving pressurized fluid therefrom upon compression thereof, said animatable feature means including a rotary member rotatably mounted on a fixed axis and having radially-extending reaction means responsive to flow of said pressurized fluid to cause said rotatable member to rotate; and conduit means for conducting pressurized fluid from said compressible member to said reaction means 2. A toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said rotary member comprises at least one simulated eye for said toy.

3. A figure toy .as stated in claim 1 wherein said animatable feature means includes a circular base plate having a nipple provided thereon to receive fluid from said conduit means, said rotary member being journalled on said base plate, said reaction means having tangentially directed reaction-jet means in fluid communication with said nipple, said reaction-jet means being carried by said rotary member for imparting rotation thereto upon flow of fluid under pressure therethrough.

4. A figure toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said reaction means comprises a plurality of vanes on said rotary member, and means for directing said fluid against said vanes.

5. A figure toy as stated in claim 1 wherein said head is a rag-doll type head having stuffing defining the shape thereof, said body including a closed bottom Wall forming the major diameter thereof, an encompassing side Wall forming a reduced-diameter portion, an open top at the end of said body portion which is remote'from said bottom wall, said open top extending into said stuffing and forming a neck for said toy, and wherein said conduit means is connected to said open top and is imbedded in said stufling.

6. A figure toy as stated in claim 4 wherein said animatable feature means includes a circular base plate having an opening therethrough in fluid communication with said conduit means and a front plate forming a chamber with said base plate, said rotary member being journalled on said base plate adjacent said chamber, said References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 875,954 1/1908 Rovech 46158 2,496,152 1/1950 Dourak 46135 2,526,619 10/1950 Gamache 46120 2,566,995 9/1951 Rose 46169 ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner.

H. DINITZ, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 46-169 

